Car Smashes Hydrant, Sends Water Flowing Into East 105 Street Homes

Firefighters work diligently to stem flow of water from hydrant at corner of East 105 Street and Avenue K Sunday night. Seth GottfriedIt took nearly an hour for firefighters and City Department of Environ-mental Protection personnel to stop the water flow at the intersection of East 105 Street and Avenue K when an out of control car knocked over a fire hydrant there. The basements of at least five residences were flooded as emergency workers tried to shut off the flow. No one was injured in the crash.

Police from the 69th Precinct had to block off the area while firefighters from Engine 257 and Ladder 170 work-ed with DEP personnel on detecting the shut-off valves.

One resident of East 105 Street said he had just finished renovating his basement and that about three inches of water flowed into it. He said he was lucky because he was able to keep his back door open, thus allowing the water to flow through the basement and not build up.

Police said the driver of the 1995 Nissan, whose name was not released, said as she was driving east on Avenue K at about 9:30 p.m. she tried to make a left turn and lost control of the vehicle, striking the hydrant on the northeast side of the intersection. She was not speeding and there were no charges filed, police said.